South Coast Wolves re-sign coach Nahuel Arrarte

By
MITCH COHEN

The club announced on Monday Nahuel Arrarte would be retained for another season less than a month after he told the organisation he would not be continuing.

South Coast Wolves coach Nahuel Arrarte. Picture: ROBERT PEET

NSW NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE

Wolves’ coach Nahuel Arrarte said overwhelming support from within the playing group forced him into an stunning backflip on his decision to leave the club at season’s end and re-sign for next year.

The club announced on Monday the first-year coach had been retained for another season less than a month after Arrarte had told the organisation he would not be continuing.

Discussions with the club last Thursday following the Wolves 1-0 FFA Cup loss to Central Coast Mariners encouraged the gaffer to have a drastic change of heart.

He had joined the club in April this year as a replacement for Richard Lloyd and said the abundance of young talent on the Wolves’ roster was a key contributor in his decision to stay.

‘‘Obviously there is a lot of young players and if you look at the match with the Mariners we finished the match with five under 20s players. Having a lot of those boys coming and asking for me to stay was pretty overwhelming,’’ he said.

‘‘That’s why I thought I would be letting those boys down, because the job wasn’t done. There is room for a lot of growth hopefully.’’

Arrarte said the support from his young playing group was mirrored from numerous other parties around the club.

‘‘There was overwhelming support from all angles. There was support from the community, the sponsors and the board and I just realised the job wasn’t done yet,’’ he said.

Arrarte won’t be joined by assistant coach Michael Santalab next season who opted to take a break from the coaching ranks.

Instead under-20’s coach Jason Spencer will step up to the mark in 2015.

‘‘I look forward to working with him. He has a lot of experience in the Wollongong area so it should be an exciting time ahead,’’ Arrarte said.

Arrarte’s appointment is undoubtedly a coup for the Wolves.

He lifted the club from bottom of the competition with just one point to eventually finish seventh after taking over.

This time around he will have the added bonus of taking charge for the entire preseason.

‘‘The opportunity to do a whole preseason would assist us immensely,’’ Arrarte said.

‘‘At the end of the day there is no secret formula but the more you know the players, the more you can work on what you are trying to do. It will be a bigger advantage.’’

‘‘It will hopeful set us on the right foot and we won’t be chasing the pack halfway through the season.’’

The appointment also puts an end to rumours Arrarte was on his way to former club Marconi.